My cousins trained me when Croatia became allies with NATO. My brother Joe, General of the 13the Croatian Psyops Group put this trip down memory lane together. I love it when a plan comes together.

Title: Mike: The Lawyer

Genre: Legal Drama / Comedy
Tagline: “In the courtroom of life, every case is personal.”

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Opening Scene

(Chicago – Early Morning)
The camera opens on a cluttered desk in a small law office. Papers, coffee cups, and a half-eaten donut suggest a late night. Mike Foster, a sharp yet disheveled defense attorney in his early 40s, snores on a couch, still in yesterday’s suit. His phone buzzes with an alert:

PHONE SCREEN: Court Hearing at 8:00 AM.

Mike jolts awake, spilling coffee on his already stained tie.

MIKE (to himself): “Another day in paradise.”

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Act 1: Introduction to Mike

Mike is a once-promising legal prodigy whose career has stalled due to his tendency to take on underdog cases that don’t pay well. He defends clients that no one else will touch—petty criminals, small-time con artists, and desperate single moms.

CLIENT (nervously): “Do I stand a chance?”
MIKE: “With me, you’ve got a chance. Maybe not a big one, but it’s better than nothing.”

Mike’s personal life is a mess. He’s divorced, estranged from his teenage daughter, Emma, and barely making ends meet.

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Act 2: The Big Case

Mike’s life takes a turn when he’s assigned to defend Sam Bennett, a young man accused of embezzling millions from a powerful corporation. The prosecution is led by Victoria Hayes, a brilliant, no-nonsense attorney and Mike’s former law school rival (and ex-girlfriend).

VICTORIA: “Still playing the hero, Mike? You can’t save them all.”
MIKE: “I’m not trying to save them all. Just the ones who can’t save themselves.”

As Mike digs into the case, he uncovers evidence suggesting Sam was framed. However, the deeper he digs, the more dangerous things become. Threatening messages begin arriving at his office, and witnesses suddenly refuse to testify.

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Act 3: The Stakes Rise

Mike enlists the help of his tech-savvy assistant, Lila, and an old private investigator friend, Ray, to gather evidence. Together, they discover the embezzlement was orchestrated by the corporation’s CEO, who plans to pin it on Sam to cover his tracks.

Meanwhile, Mike tries to reconnect with Emma, who is unimpressed with her father’s chaotic life.

EMMA: “Why do you care so much about strangers but can’t show up for me?”
MIKE: “I’m trying, kiddo. I really am.”

The case takes a personal toll as Mike faces pressure to drop it. Victoria offers him a deal:

VICTORIA: “Walk away now, and I’ll make sure you get a high-paying gig with my firm. It’s time to stop playing the martyr.”
MIKE: “And let an innocent kid take the fall? Not my style.”

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Act 4: The Courtroom Showdown

In a tense courtroom sequence, Mike delivers a passionate defense. Using the evidence he and his team uncovered, he exposes the CEO’s corruption. Victoria, realizing she’s been used by her client, reluctantly switches sides, helping Mike corner the CEO during cross-examination.

MIKE: “You thought you could silence the truth with power and money. But here’s the thing about the truth—it always finds a voice.”

The jury delivers a verdict of “not guilty” for Sam, while the CEO is arrested for fraud and perjury.

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Epilogue

(Mike’s Office – Months Later)
Mike’s office is still cluttered but slightly more organized. Emma visits, carrying a box of cupcakes.

EMMA: “Mom says I can stay for dinner. You still make terrible spaghetti?”
MIKE: “It’s improved. Slightly.”

Mike smiles as they sit down to eat, a small step toward repairing their relationship.

The phone rings—a new case. Mike answers, grinning.

MIKE (into the phone): “Mike Foster, attorney at law. No case too small, no client too messy.”

The camera pans out as father and daughter laugh, the city skyline glowing in the background.

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Closing Credits

The credits roll over scenes of Mike in action—arguing in court, helping clients, and rebuilding his life, set to an upbeat jazz track.